In what can be good news for Indian cricket team fans, fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel are set to return to the Men in Blue side for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022, reports have suggested.
Bumrah had suffered back issues after the England tour, while Harshal Patel suffered from a side strain and both have been working on their fitness and rehabbing at the NCA in Bengaluru.
As per reports from Cricbuzz, the two most critical bowlers of the side would be staging a comeback but central to their return is fitness, which they believe has been cleared by them. The two have regained their full fitness and bowled normally at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru recently.
The selectors, however, will see the progress of Bumrah and Harshal in the upcoming home T20I series against Australia and South Africa. Both will be made to play the matches against the visiting sides.
In the recent Asia Cup 2022, India went in with four spinners Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, and Ravi Bishnoi, with Akshar Patel replacing injured Ravindra Jadeja. However, there were only three pacers in the main squad in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Avesh Khan apart from all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
With their return almost certain, vacancies will have to be created in the current squad and the obvious ones to make way will be one pacer and one spinner.
There is no news on whether Mohammad Shami, whose absence in the Asia Cup 2022 squad was criticized by fans and experts alike will be considered for the T20 World Cup or not.
On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja is out of contention after undergoing knee surgery which means Akshar Patel is set to retain his spot. But discussions will be made on Deepak Hooda and the need for two keepers in Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik.
The selection committee meeting is likely to take place by September 15. The T20 World Cup in Australia starts on October 16 and ends on November 13.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
